The series originally focused on Gizelle Bryant, Ashley Darby, Robyn Dixon, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan and Katie Rost. The cast currently consists of Bryant, Darby, Dixon, Huger, Monique Samuels, and Candiace Dillard. Of the original housewives, Rost departed after the first season, and Jackson-Jordan was a friend of the housewives in the third. The remaining housewives joined in later seasons: Samuels in the second and Dillard in the third.

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Initially titled Potomac Ensemble, The Real Housewives of Potomac was announced on November 11, 2015.[2][3] The series is the network's second attempt to develop a reality series based in the Washington, D.C. area. The first effort was The Real Housewives of D.C. which aired in 2010 and was canceled after one season.[4]

The first season premiered on January 17, 2016, and starred Gizelle Bryant, Katie Rost, Karen Huger, Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, Robyn Dixon and Ashley Darby.[5] After the filming for the second season began, Rost was fired from the show.[6] Monique Samuels was then added to the cast for the second season which premiered on April 2, 2017.[7]

The third season premiered on April 1, 2018, with Candiace Dillard joining the cast, and Jackson-Jordan appearing in a "friend" capacity.[8]

The fourth season began filming in August 2018, with Candiace Dillard's wedding being filmed.[9] That same month, former cast member Katie Rost announced her return to the show.[10]

The premiere episode of The Real Housewives of Potomac received a 1.2 rating in adults 18–49 years adult demographic and 2.54 million viewers in total, according to Nielsen Media Research's "live plus-3" estimates. The episode was the highest rated premiere of any series of The Real Housewives franchise.[11] The first season of the series averaged 2.1 million viewers in the "live plus-3" estimates, becoming the network's most-watched first season of a series since The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in 2010.[12]

The reality series has received mostly positive reviews from television critics. Amy Amatangelo, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, said, "Like its predecessors, The Real Housewives of Potomac offers escapist TV at the highest level," and also added, "You can watch with the comfort that you would never behave this way and delight in all the ridiculous shenanigans." Amatangelo praised the show's diversity by saying that the network aims the franchise to be "an equal-opportunity offender".[13] Joi-Marie McKenzie of ABC News, reviewing the show's premiere, said, "Between the show introductions, there was plenty of shade-throwing and one-liners to keep "Housewives" enthusiasts entertained."[14]

The reality series is broadcast on the Bravo cable network in the United States. The first episode aired on Sunday January 17, 2016 9/8pm ET/PT, following a new episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.[2] Internationally, the series premiered in Australia on Arena on January 18, within hours of the American broadcast.[15] The first season consists of ten episodes, excluding a two-part reunion that aired on April 10 and 17, 2016.[16] In New Zealand, The Real Housewives of Potomac began airing in July 2016, on Bravo upon the channels inception.[17] The series began airing in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2016, on ITVBe.[18][19]